The Town FilesWaukon, Iowa
City in Allamakee County · population 3,827 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $147,200
- Household income
- $60,269
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 44.3
Waukon is a city of 3,827 people in Allamakee County, Iowa. The median home is worth $147,200, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more of a college town than 97% of Iowa towns, hipper than 94% of Iowa towns, more walkable than 84% of Iowa towns.
How Waukon ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Waukon is worth $147,200, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $60,269, which is more affordable than 41% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $696 a month. 77.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waukon | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $147,200 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $696 | $820 |
| Median household income | $60,269 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 77.0% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.3% | — |
Who lives in Waukon
| People | Waukon | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 16.7 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.4% | 88.5% |
Weather in Waukon
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 8.4°F. About 39.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.1 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waukon since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 17, 2026 about 5.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 17, 2004.
Severe weather in Allamakee County since 1996
Allamakee County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2023 | Flood | DR-4732: Flooding |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 27, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4334: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Allamakee County
Allamakee County had 4,837 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,815 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Waukon itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Waukon
4 public schools with 1,151 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waukon High School | 9-12 | 378 | 15.8 |
| West Campus Elementary School | PK-2 | 275 | 12.0 |
| Waukon Middle School | 6-8 | 270 | 18.0 |
| East Campus Elementary School | 3-5 | 228 | 14.3 |
Towns near Waukon
- Postville, IA13.5 mi · 2,503 people · home $104,700
- Decorah, IA15.6 mi · 7,587 people · home $244,500
- Prairie du Chien, WI23.3 mi · 5,506 people · home $161,300
- Caledonia, MN25.3 mi · 2,847 people · home $157,900
Waukon questions
Is Waukon, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waukon scores better for retirees than 76% of Iowa towns and quieter than 15%. 27.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.3).
How much does a house cost in Waukon?
The median owner-occupied home in Waukon is valued at $147,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,269, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $696 a month.
What is the weather like in Waukon?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 8.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.2 inches of precipitation a year and 36.1 inches of snow.
Does Waukon get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waukon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 17, 2026. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)